Certificate Of Occupancy Issued

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) new location on Highway 36 east has passed it’s final inspection and received a certificate of occupancy.

At least one of the outstanding contractor liens on the property has been paid in full. K & S Lighting of Farmington, Utah has been paid the $27,551.98 owed the company. K & S owner Rob Kunzler is a member of the church.

Of the remaining outstanding liens, Complete Drywall of Molena, Georgia is owed $9,300.50 and has had no contact with the general contractor Patmac since April. Owner Ricky Boutwell told Upson Today that the company begin working on the project in January of this year and was paid $2,000 after submitting the first draw on the job. A second draw of $7,000 was submitted and the company was paid $5,000 of that amount.

In April a group of non-English speaking day workers were brought onto the job site and Boutwell was told that they would be working with him. Boutwell did not hire the workers and refused to be responsible for them due to insurance concerns and the inability to communicate with the workers. Boutwell advised Patmac that the company was pulling off the job for non-payment the same month.

Complete Drywall was never advised by Patmac that any of the work performed by the company was substandard nor was the company required to replace or redo any of the drywall installed. Since filing the lien, attempts to contact Patmac have been unsuccessful.

Virginia Well Company of Thomaston was contracted by Patmac to cap an abandoned well on the property. Owner Randy Chastain stated that his company filled the well with gravel, added a ten foot concrete cap and sealed the well as required by state law. The well was located where the main entrance to the church property has been constructed. Patmac owner P. C. Frailey personally assured Chastain, while on the church property, that he would be paid but Patmac has failed to do so.

Burt Steel, of Montgomery, Alabama has been in business since 1945 and for the past 30 years has specialized in the fabrication of custom steel systems for large buildings and shopping centers. The company was contracted by Patmac to fabricate and erect the structural steel used in the building.

The company performed the work to the specifications provided and has been forced to file two liens on the property in an effort to collect what is owed them. One lien is in the amount of $11,546.37 for the steel and the other is $5,470.00 for the erection. Company spokesman Bo Burt stated that the company has not heard from Patmac since efforts to collect the debt have been underway.

Local Thomaston attorney Mark Irvin has been hired by Frailey and Associates, D/B/A Patmac Contracting to work with their regular attorneys and represent them locally in a suit against Electrical Advantage and owner Tim McKissick.

Upson Today will have more from an interview with Irvin in a follow-up story.